Photographic film-developing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A disposable photographic processor having a pair of elongated plates which are sealed to each other along their longitudinal edges to thereby form the inlet and outlet for the processor. A cup for containing a processing solution is formed in one of the plates. A pull strip is positioned between the plates and has an attaching device thereon for drawing an exposed film through the processor.

United States Patent Bowlby [54] PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM-DEVELOPING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: James F. Bowlby, 124 Demarest Road,

Bloomingdale, NJ. 07403 [22] Filed: Sept. 17,1968

[21] Appl.No.: 760,231

[52] US. Cl ..95/89 [51] Int. Cl. ..G03d 5/00 [58] Field of Search "95/89, 13, 90, 90.5, 95, 96

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,442,195 5/1969 Guynes ..9S/89 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2 7,959 12/1912 great Britain...

[ 1 Mar. 7, 1972 166,555 1 1/1922 Great Britain ..95/90 334,136 9/1918 Germany ....95/90 369,148 3/1922 Germany ..95/90 Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun Att0mey-Leonard H. King 57] ABSTRACT A disposable photographic processor having a pair of elongated plates which are sealed to each other along their longitudinal edges to thereby form the inlet and outlet for the processor. A cup for containing a processing solution is fonned in one of the plates. A pull strip is positioned between the plates and has an attaching device thereon for drawing an exposed film through the processor.

8 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures fl gm um vim 2 v I sumlnra JAMES F. GBOWZBY INVENTOR. Y flaw/ K2 PATENTEDHAR- 1m;

sum 2 0F 4 JAMES KG. BOWLBY INVENTOR.

flWM rj ATTORNEY PATENTEUMAR 71912 3,646,872

' mm u 0F 4 FIG; 12 A 'FIG. 16 v JAMES FIG. BOWLBY INVENTOR.

By J MAJ A my ATTORNEY PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM-DEVELOPING APPARATUS This invention relates to photography and more particularly to apparatus for processing of exposed light sensitive material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A need exists for a low cost, simple, developing apparatus for exposed light sensitive material. In field use of X-rays, such as at accident scenes and military operations for the examination, as well as in connection with industrial use of X-rays for inspection purposes and the like, it is highly desirable that the X-ray film be developed on the site. Presently, this requires use of dark room facilities limiting the use of X-rays, or involving a time delay between the time of exposure and the time the doctor or technician has available to him the remotely processed X-rays.

The present invention provides an inexpensive developing apparatus which may be formed of simple plastic materials and which may be economically discarded after a single usage. Further, the apparatus is light and permits of use of standard film materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A formable sheet material is used to form a compartmented crate. The film to be developed is attached to a pull tab which is then drawn through the developer solutions. The system does not employ pods which must be broken and spread and therefore eliminates the need for critical mechanical components.

The pull tab may be used as a sealing surface by coating it with a viscous cohesive material, such as a wax, to prevent oxygen from entering. Other sealing systems, such as interlocking channels, may be employed. A thermoformed plastic sheet is presently preferred. However, the invention may be carried out with the use of nonporous paper.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a packet for developing of film without the need of a dark room.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a simple, low cost, disposable, developing apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide a nonliquid developing system.

A different object of this invention is to provide a lightweight, disposable developing apparatus.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a single use developing apparatus suitable for the developing of color materials.

Still other objects, features and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms an integral part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the various figures of the drawing like reference characters designate like parts.

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view of the components of the developing unit;

FIG. 2 is a perspective form of the assembled unit aligned with a film to be developed;

FIG. 3 shows the developing unit of FIG. 2 with the film attached to the pull tab; I

FIG. 4 shows the film being drawn into the developing packet;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly with a portion of the cover broken away to show the interior layer;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the developed film upon removal from the packet;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a similar developing packet having positions for two stages of development;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing components of the developing packet of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention adapted for the processing of roll films;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 9 showing the access door opened;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing one form of pull tab;

FIGS. 12 and 12A are perspective views and a side elevation in section, respectively, showing still another form of attachment between pull tabs and film;

FIG. I3 is a perspective view showing another form of attachment between film and pull tab;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the developing pack with another form of pull tab and clip;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of a portion of the developing packet, shown in section, with the clip of FIG. 14 engaged; and

FIG. 16 is a section of a portion of the developing packet showing the light trap engaging a clip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown in exploded relationship the elements of a developing device 20. The device includes a pair of rigidized sheets 21 and 22 of a nonporous material. By way of example medium impact polystyrene is presently preferred for this purpose. Nonporous papers or porous papers coated with nonporous materials such as polyethylenecoated papers may be used. The member 22 includes a longitudinal approach channel 23 and a pocket 24 which is filled with developer 25, the pocket 24 being defined by the cross ribs 26 and 27. An upper section 28, likewise provided with a pocket, is sealed to the lower section along the longitudinal rails 29 and 30 to form the structure shown in FIG. 2. The pockets in both sections are filled with viscous developers. Additional pockets may be provided for fixing agents, or other processing material. A pull tab 31 is provided between the two sections.

The invention will be described hereinafter with reference to X-ray applications, although, as will be pointed out, while this is a particularly advantageous application of the invention, the invention may be used for many other standard photographic purposes.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the X-ray film 32 is placed in an open-ended pocket 34 formed of a material which is opaque to actinic light, but which is transparent to X-radiation. Such materials are now commonly employed for protecting of X- ray film. A tab 37 extends from the open end of the film packet. This tab may be a portion of the X-ray film or may be an additional piece attached thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, the film tab is then attached to the edge 40 of the pull tab and the pull tab is drawn in the direction indicated by the arrow until light shield 41 engages and encloses the open end of the pocket 34 of X-ray film, as shown in FIG. 4. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, as the pull tab is pulled out the film is drawn into the developer section where it is permitted to stay for the required length of time. The pull tab may be appropriately marked so that the user would draw the tab to the point at which alignment of the film with the developer section is obtained. This stop mark 39 is shown, for example, in FIG. 6. After the film has been in the developer for a sufficient time, the film is pulled from the packet, as shown in FIG. 6.

In discussing the embodiment of FIGS. I-6, it has been presumed that a monobath developer would be employed. However, should it be desired to include a fixing agent, a second pocket 24a may be provided, as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, for example, pocket 24a may contain a fixing agent. The same procedure is followed. It will readily be appreciated that by extending the length of the developing packet in the longitudinal direction, additional pockets may be provided with other dyes and developers to perform any of the conventional processing procedures now used for color film.

In FIG. 8 there is shown a modification of the apparatus wherein an additional pocket 24!: is provided which contains wiper pads 50. In FIG. 8 there is shown a pull tab marked with instructions and indexing lines. The user need only align the pull tab markings with the end of the developer packet for the times shown to obtain proper results.

The same basic concept may be employed for developing of roll film by providing a pocket 60 for receiving the roll film 62,

or a cassette containing the film, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. After the pull tab is attached to the film leader, the lid 63 is closed and the pull tab is pulled to draw the film through the developing stages. Here, again, while only one developing station is shown, a multiplicity of such stations may be provided. The lid may be self-hinged as indicated by the crease line 64. The lid lip 65 can engage edge 66.

The film may be attached to the pull tab by various techniques as, for example, by adhesives or mechanical means.

in FIG. 1 there is shown an adhesive strip 70. If a pressuresensitive adhesive is employed, it may be protected by a nonadherent cover strip formed of polyvinyl alcohol or other material which will not stick to the particular adhesive employed.

In FIG. 11 there is shown a film member F provided with a hole 71 into which the prong 72 of a spring metal clip on the pull tab engages in the hole.

ln H6. 12, the pull tab is provided with a downwardly extending prong 84 which engages strip 85 of the film when the tab 86 is inserted into slot 87. This is shown in the sectional view of FIG. 12A.

As shown in FIG. 13, the film may also be provided with a reverse tab 88 which engages in the slot of the pull tab.

It is to be understood that the methods of attaching the film to the pull tab are shown merely by way of example, and is not intended in any way to be limiting.

ln FIGS. 14-16 a different clip form is shown, where a clip 90 is attached to the pull tab; in this case it is shown as being slipped through a slot. The clip 90 is provided with a downwardly extending lance 91. As the pull tab is drawn into the developing pack, the light shield 92 squeezes down on the sloping wall of the clip 92 thus causing the lance 91 to pierce the film and clamp it tightly. In the next phase, as shown in FIG. 16, the clip is squeezed shut as it is pulled into the pack. ln PK}. 16 there is also shown by way of example the use of a material such as mohair 93 to form a light-type barrier.

The processing formulations may be those conventionally used for processing film with the addition of a thickening agent. Nonwoven fiber pads may be placed in the cavities as a further aid in retaining the thickened processing solutions.

lt is to be noted that, as disclosed, the apparatus employs recesses for receiving processing materials on either side of the sensitized material. This is generally necessary only for X- ray materials which are coated on both sides. For conventional photomaterials, single side coating may be employed.

In addition to the index lines, holes may be provided in the pull strip, as shown in FIG. 8, where holes 95 engage raised portion 96 which mates with raised portion 97. This serves as a detent and accurately aligns the photosensitive material with the particular processing pod.

Having thus disclosed the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A disposable processor for exposed light sensitive film, said processor comprising:

a. a pair of elongated plates sealed to each other along opposed, longitudinal edges and open at the ends thereof to define a substantially flat sleeve member having inlet means characterized by a longitudinal approach channel formed by a depression in at least one of said plates and outlet means;

b. at least one cup formed in said plates;

c. a quantity of a composition for chemically treating exposed, light sensitive film, said composition being permanently contained in said cup whereby said processor is disposed of when said chemical composition is no longer effective for its intended purpose;

d. a pull strip positioned between said plates and arranged to be drawn through said sleeve outward of said outlet means; and e. means for attaching said pull strip to the film.

2. The processor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plates are sheets of a nonporous material.

3. The processor in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is provided a plurality of said cups axially spaced apart with respect to a path extending between said inlet and said outlet means, each of said plurality of cups containing a different chemical for treating the exposed, light sensitive film.

4. The processor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pull strip includes index markings for indicating the position of the film relative to said chemical.

5. The processor in accordance with claim 1 further including means for indexing the movement of said pull strip.

6. The processor in accordance with claim 1 further including wiper means integral therewith for removing excess of said chemical composition, said wiper means being located intermediate said cup and said outlet means.

7. The processor in accordance with claim 1 further including a container adapted to hold a roll of exposed, light sensitive film, said container having outlet means for the film, said container outlet means being in light-tight communication with said processor inlet means.

8. The processor in accordance with claim 1 further including an envelope adapted to hold a length of exposed, light sensitive film, said envelope having an open end arranged to fit into said inlet means of said processor. 

2. The processor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plates are sheets of a nonporous material.
 3. The processor in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is provided a plurality of said cups axially spaced apart with respect to a path extending between said inlet and said outlet means, each of said plurality of cups containing a different chemical for treating the exposed, light sensitive film.
 4. The processor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pull strip includes index markings for indicating the position of the film relative to said chemical.
 5. The processor in accordance with claim 1 further including means for indexing the movement of said pull strip.
 6. The processor in accordance with claim 1 further including wiper means integral therewith for removing excess of said chemical composition, said wiper means being located intermediate said cup and said outlet means.
 7. The processor in accordance with claim 1 further including a container adapted to hold a roll of exposed, light sensitive film, said container having outlet means for the film, said container outlet means being in light-tight communication with said processor inlet means.
 8. The processor in accordance with claim 1 further including an envelope adapted to hold a length of exposed, light sensitive film, said envelope having an open end arranged to fit into said inlet means of said processor. 